Is the REALIZE Band for me??

Hello,

My name is Meredith. I am trying to gather some information on the Realize band. I am almost 21 years old and I am about 70-80 lbs overweight ( I should be about 140 lbs to be at a healthy weight). My BMI puts me on the higher end of the obese catagory. I have tried several different diets and none of them have worked. I will lose 5-15 lbs and then gain it all back plus more. I have a constant struggle with my weight as well as with depression. I am a HUGE emotional eater. And it just seems that no matter what I do, food is always there and I'm always having this weight issue. I will finally think I'm gonna make it and then something happens to kick me back down. I have recently been told by my doctor that I am at a high risk for diabetes and/or high cholesterol. I have been dealing with my weight issue for several years now and it's starting to cause back and knee problems. So I am wondering if the Realize band has worked well for you and if it would be right for me. I am really considering it to help me get healthy. I have been to a weight loss surgery seminar and I have my consultation with the Dr. in a couple weeks. Since I am so young I would really like to be able to have the occaissional drink, like on holidays, and I know you can not drink with certain surgeries. I am very nervous about everything but I am sick of being fat and having nothing else work to lose this weight. So if you could please send me your input and/or advice that would be great! Thank you!

Again, I would say no based on the reasons I listed in your MB post.

Best,
Lindsey

ETA: Meredith, take some time to browse this forum...here are some of the most recent posts:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4473336/Goodbye-Ba ndzilla-Ill-Miss-You/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4473144/I-might-wa nt-my-band-out/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4473492/Frustratin g-day-port-flipped/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4473290/Thinking-o r-revision-Surgery-Help-Please/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4473479/Feel-like- such-a-failure/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4473453/My-Band-Ha tes-Me-Im-at-my-wits-end-Please-help/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4472620/Im-back-3- 5-years-post-op/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4472870/Bad-Experi ence-in-Mexico-Dr-Joya/

Obesity is a big deal. You are so young you may not have any co-morbidities right now, but obesity wreaks havoc on your body as you age. You are at the awesome stage of being able to pick a safe and effective surgery that will actually get you to goal.
 

You can drink with any WLS. That should not be a determining factor in which WLS to get though.!

Meredith
At this time I suggest you do not have any WLS until you learn to love and accept yourself first. The reason I say this is because I just read your profile and not only are you in a vulnerable state of mind, but weight loss surgery isn't going to change whatever your reasons were for your attempted suicide, depression, and self hatred.

I'm sure you are beautiful on the inside as well as you are on the outside. I know  I know you have heard this all before, but I have been hanging around this place for a long time and I've seen people such as yourself lose the weight, only to find other ways to harm themselves.

WLS is serious business and you can have it, but first you need to find peace and happiness within yourself first because changing how you look on the outside will not automatically change how you feel about yourself on the inside. Learn to love yourself first Meredith and PLEASE seek professional help.

When you've done that, then I would strongly encourage you to get the sleeve rather then the band.

PM me if you want to talk privately.

Lisa

 Meredith, I answered you on the main board but after seeing Pumpkin's post, read your profile.

Surgery may well be the way for you to go, most of us got to that stage after years of despair. But no surgery is easy. None of them! All of them require determination and effort. We all have to make massive lifestyle changes and that is hard f we feel fragile and vulnerable.

Go into this with great care. Carry on researching but think about your first steps. Counselling may well be that first step.

I wish you all the very best. Do keep coming here to truly understand the changes you will need to nake.

Kate

Meredith, after reading Pumpkin's message, I took the time to read your profile and she makes some good points.

So many of us think that the weight is the source of most of our problems and that if the weight would just go away, the problems would go along with it.

What is more often the case is that there is some underlying issue/medical condition that we use food to cover up or avoid. Then when WLS takes our coping mechanism away...well, it can be an emotional mess!

I have found counseling to be very helpful for me. In your pursual of weight loss surgery, you will likely have to visit with a psychologist. It may be a good time to take some further private sessions as well to help peel back some layers and find out what is leading you to certain thoughts/behvarios as well as to learn new coping mechanisms.

You definitely deserve to be happy and to value yourself at any weight!